String-suspended climbing toy



July 4, 1967 .M.HUGHESI 3,328,910

STRING-SUSPENDED CLIMBING TOY Filed March 1, 1965 a j FORCE TO UNWIND JERK UP 2 EO I ZC E DUE TO WEIGHT OF TOY IO m SUDDEN g FORCE TO WIND DROP f2 IIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIIFT LENGTH OF STRING l4 UNWOUND ,NVENTOR 3117. 5- BY Aorr/u M f/u7/Ie5 ATTORNEY United States Patent ce 3,328,910 STRING-SUSPENDED CLIMBING TOY Larry Mahlon Hughes, St. Joseph, Mich., assignor to Coliet Toy Manufacturing Company, Watervliet, Mich., a corporation of Michigan Filed Mar. 1, 1965, Ser. No. 436,057 Claims. (Cl. 46-132) This invention resides in the mechanical arts. It pertains to toy bug movable on suspending string.

More particularly, this invention relates to a toy which, when operated in the intended manner, has an action and etfect similar to that of a spider at the end of a strand of its web.

In summary, the toy of this invention comprises a body, the exterior of which can simulate the body and appendages of a spider, insect, animal, any fanciful object or the like. The interior of the body contains a spool with a string partially wound about it and extending through an opening at the top of the body. The spool is associated with a substantially constant force spring motor, a number of embodiments of which are well known. The motor is constructed so that when the toy is suspended in air on the string, it exerts a substantially constant torque on the spool and thus a winding force on the string, which force is slightly less than the force on the string due to the weight of the toy body, while the weight force is slightly less than the force needed to unwind string from the spool. Consequently, the toy neither moves upwardly nor moves downwardly. relative to the support point of the string (the point on the string whereat it is held or supported when the toy body is suspended in air on said string), until an upward or downward acceleration of the toy body adds to or subtracts from the weight force sufliciently to cause the spool to turn and unwind or wind string. When the string is jerked upwardly, string unwinds from the spool and the toy body moves downwardly relative to the top end of the string. When the string is dropped rapidly, string is wound up on the spool and the toy body moves upwardly relative to the top end of the string.

This invention is described in greater detail relative to the drawing which forms a material part of the disclosures. In the drawing:

FIG. 1 is an elevational view of preferred embodiment of the toy of this invention;

FIG. 2 is a longitudinal view of the interior of this embodiment after sectioning of the casing of the toy body on line 22 of FIG. 1;

FIG. 3 is a transverse view of this embodiment after sectioning of the casing and an interior mounting plate on line 33 of FIG. 2;

FIG. 4 is a view of said embodiment when suspended in air on the string with the string partially drawn out from the body and with the string held at its top end, which view shows the top end of the string being jerked upwardly;

FIG. 5 is a view of said embodiment showing a result of the action depicted in FIG. 4, and

FIG. 6 is a graph illustrating various static and dynamic forces acting on the string in an intended normal operation of this preferred embodiment. v

In greater detail, FIGS. 1-4 of the drawing illustrate a toyspider 10 which comprises a body 12, a string 14 and a ring 16. One end of the string 14 is secured to the 3,328,910 Patented July 4, 1967 as well as to provide a finger gn'p or means through which a finger can be inserted.

The body 12 as shown in FIGS. 2 and 3 comprises a casing or shell 18 which can be constructed from any of the usual materials of construction such as, for example, metal, plastic material and the like. Located in the top of the casing 18 is a hole 19 through which the string 14 passes to the interior of the body 12. Inside of the casing 18 is an internal mechanism 20.

The internal mechanism 20 comprises a mounting plate 22 which is secured to the casing 18 as by channel section members 24 of the casing 18. The mounting plate is disposed in the casing 18 generally parallel to the string 14 when it is partially withdrawn from the interior of the body 12 and the toy 10 is suspended in air as in FIGS. 4 and 5. Perpendicularly disposed to the mounting plate 22 is a stationary shaft 26 on which is rotatably mounted a rotatable member 28. The rotatable member 28 comprises a string spool section 30 and a spring take-up drum section 32. In the region of the rotatable member 28 and secured perpendicularly to the mounting plate 22 on the same side thereof as the rotatable member 28 is another stationary shaft 34 on which is rotatably mounted a spring storage reel 36. The diameter of the spring receiving portion of the spring storage reel 36 is less than the diameter of the spring receiving portion of the spring take-up drum section 32. Wound about the spring storage reel 36 and reverse-wound about the spring take-up drum section 32 is a constant-force spring band 38. This is usually a strip of stainless or high carbon spring steel which has been specifically prestressed and thermally treated so that it exhibits a powerful tendency to curl which is substantially uniform throughout its length. The spring band 38 is wound on the spring storage reel 36 in the direction of its curl. Consequently, the spring band 38 resists unrolling or unwinding from the spring storage reel 36 with a force substantially uniform throughout its length. In reverse winding the spring band 38 about the spring take-up drum section 32 the tendency of the spring band 38 to recurl to its preset curvature is utilized, whereby the face of the spring band 38 acting on the spring take-up drum section 32 results in a substantially constant torque on the rotatable member 28 and thus on the string spool section 30. The assembly comprising the spring band 38, the spring take-up drum 32 and the spring storage reel 36 constitutes a substantially constant force spring motor. However, because of internal friction and the like, the force required to unwind the spring band 38 from the spring storage reel 36 is greater than the force required to unwind the spring band 38 from the spring take-up drum section 32.

The string 14 is wound about the string spool section 32 in a direction opposite to the direction of the substantially constant torque on the string spool section 30. Consequently, when part of the string 14 is pulled from the string spool section 30, part of the spring band 38 is unwound from the spring storage reel 36 and part of the spring band 38 is wound on the spring take-up drum section 32. When part of the string 14 thereafter is released, the torque on the string spool section 30 causes the released part of the string 14 to be taken up on the string spool section 30, part of the spring band 38 is unwound from the string take-up drum section 32 and part if the spring band 38 is wound on the spring storage reel 56. The spring band 38 is selected so that the force on he string 14 required to unwind the string from the string :pool section 30 is greater than the force on the string due to the weight of the toy body 12 when the toy body i2 is freely suspended in air from the string while said Weight force is greater than the force required to wind raid string on said string spool section 30. In this regard vt is within the concepts of this invention, to add weight :0, or subtract weight from the toy body 12 by means of suitable Weights in order to achieve the desired balance of static forces.

FIGS. 4 and 5 illustrate one way in which the toy is intended to be operated. A portion, but not to the limit, of the string 14 is withdrawn from the toy body 12 and the body is suspended in the air on the string from the ring 16. When the ring 16 is jerked upwardly as indicated in FIG. 4, the body 12 tends to move upwardly but also string 14 tends to unwind from the string spool section 30, whereby the toy body 12 moves downwardly relative to the ring 16. When the ring 16 is dropped rapidly from the position shown in FIG. 5 to the position shown in FIG. 4 the body 12 tends to move downwardly but also string 14 tends to be wound up on the string spool section 39, whereby the toy body 12 moves upwardly relative to the ring 16.

The principle of this mode of operation of the toy 10 is illustrated by the graph in FIG. 6. As a result of the static forces already described, and which are indicated by the legends of the graph, when the toy body 12 is quiescently suspended in air from the string 14 there is substantially no movement of the toy body 12 toward or away from the end of the string 14 attached to the ring 16. This is true even if the ring 16 is moved with gradual acceleration either up or down. However, if the ring 16 is suddenly moved either up or down, or, if in motion, is quickly accelerated in a vertical direction, that is, either up or down, movement of the toy body 12 relative to the ring 16 occurs. Thus when the string 14 is jerked upwardly as in FIG. 4, the force on the string 14 exerted through the jerk is greater than the force needed to unwind the string from the string spool section 30, and, because of the inertia of the body 12 relative to the string 14 outside of the body the string unwinds from the string spool section 30. The result is that the toy body 12 moves downwardly relative to the ring 16. When the string 14 is rapidly dropped the inertia of the toy body 12 relative to the string 14 outside of the body tends to reduce at least part of the force on the string 14 due to the weight of the toy body 12, giving a net force on the string less than the force needed to wind the string on the string spool section 30 of the rotatable member 28. Consequently the result is that the toy body 12 moves upwardly relative to the ring 16.

If the toy body 12 is gradually accelerated upwardly by suitable lifting of the ring 16 at the end of the string 14 to the point where upward travel of the toy body 12 continues when the upward movement of the ring 16 is suddenly stopped, some of the string will be taken up by the string spool section 30 before the upward velocity of the toy body 12 becomes zero. By repeating this manipulation of the ring 16, the toy body 12 can be made to clim the string without reversing direction, but with momentary stops.

Similarly, if the toy body 12 is gradually accelerated downwardly by corresponding lowering of the ring 16 to the point where both the toy body 12 and ring 16 are at a free fall acceleration and then the downward travel of the ring 16 is suddenly stopped, some of the string will unwind from the string spool section 30 before the downward travel of the toy body 12 stops. By repeating this manipulation of the ring 16, the toy body 12 can be made to travel downwardly relative to the ring 16 with momentary stops. If the toy body 12 has the outward appearance and appendages of a bug, for example, a spider, as in FIGS. 4 and 5, the appearance is that of a spider descending on a thread of its web.

Preferably the internal mechanism 20 is disposed in the interior of the toy body 12 so that when the toy body 12 is suspended in air on the string 14, the center of gravity of the toy body 12 is substantially in line with the string 14 in a horizontal plane at or above, but preferably not above the top of the casing 18, the generally horizontal axis of the shaft 26 on which is mounted the rotatable member 28. However, it is also within the concepts of the invention for the center of gravity to be located in a different position such as, for example, in line with the string 14 but in a horizontal plane below said axis of said shaft 26. When the center of gravity of the mass of the body 12 which includes the casing 18 and internal mechanism 20 is in line with the string 14, but in a horizontal plane at or above (but below the top of the shell 18), the axis of shaft 26, the body 12 tends to be stable in operation. When the center of gravity is in line with the string 14, but in a horizontal plane lower than the axis of the shaft 26, the body 12 in operation has a tendency to swing or oscillate on the end of the string. The wall of the shell 18 surrounding the hole 19 is support for some rotational movements. Either stable or oscillatory movement may be desired and, therefore, can be built into the toy.

An optional feature of the preferred embodiment of this invention is a friction means in combination with the internal mechanism 20. Another optional feature of the preferred embodiment of the invention is a noise making means in combination with the internal mechanism 20. In the embodiment shown the friction means and the noise means are present in one assembly of parts. This assembly as illustrated in FIG. 2 comprises a gear section 40 of the rotatable member 28 and a flexible finger 42, one end of 'which is secured to a pin 44 mounted on the mounting plate 22. The flexible finger 47 is positioned so that the tip of the other end thereof bears against the teeth of the gear section 40. When the rotatable member 28 rotates, this tip of the flexible finger rubs against the gear teeth, thereby creating friction, and snaps into position between the teeth, thereby creating noise.

Thus, there is provided a toy which has a unique action when operated as intended. It can be constructed out of readily available, rugged materials and from readily available elements.

Other features, advantages and embodiments of this invention will be readily apparent to those in the exercise of ordinary skill in the art after reading the foregoing disclosures. In this connection, while a specific embodiment of this invention has been described in considerable detail, variations and modifications of the embodiment can be effected without departing from the spirit and scope of the invention as disclosed and claimed. For example, other substantially constant force spring motors can be employed in place of the substantially constant force spring motor shown in the drawing.

I claim:

1. A toy comprising a body having a constant force spring motor connected thereto,

said motor comprising a spring storage reel and a spring take-up drum rotatably mounted on parallel axes with an elongated spring having one end coiled in one direction about said storage reel and its other end connected to be wound in an opposite spring loading direction about said take-up drum,

a spool connected to said take-up drum for rotation therewith,

and a string having one end extending from said body and having its other end wound around said spool in a direction whereby pulling the spring off of the spool will rotate said take-up drum to wind said spring in spring loading direction onto said take-up drum from said storage reel,

the torque force of said string on said spool when said body is suspended in an equilibrium position on said string approximately equaling the force of said spring tending to rewind said spring on said storage reel.

2. A toy as defined in claim 1 in which there is a means increasing the normal frictional resistance to rotation of said spring motor.

3. A toy as defined in claim 2 in which said means for increasing frictional resistance also creates sound upon rotation of said spring motor.

4. A toy according to claim 1 wherein said body has the outward appearance of a spider.

5. A toy according to claim 1 wherein the center of gravity of said body member is in line with the portion References Cited UNITED STATES PATENTS 9/1895 Hoifmann 46-132 4/1966 Stubbmann 461l8 X RICHARD c PINKHAM, Primary Examiner. L. J. BOVASSO, T. ZACK, Assistant Examiners. 

1. A TOY COMPRISING A BODY HAVING A CONSTANT FORCE SPRING MOTOR CONNECTED THERETO, SAID MOTOR COMPRISING A SPRING STORAGE REEL AND A SPRING TAKE-UP DRUM ROTATABLY MOUNTED ON PARALLEL AXES WITH AN ELONGATED SPRING HAVING ONE END COILED IN ONE DIRECTION ABOUT SAID STORAGE REEL AND ITS OTHER END CONNECTED TO BE WOUND IN AN OPPOSITE SPRING LOADING DIRECTION ABOUT SAID TAKE-UP DRUM, A SPOOL CONNECTED TO SAID TAKE-UP DRUM FOR ROTATION THEREWITH, AND A STRING HAVING ONE END EXTENDING FROM SAID BODY AND HAVING ITS OTHER END WOUND AROUND SAID SPOOL IN A DIRECTION WHEREBY PULLING THE SPRING OFF OF THE SPOOL WILL ROTATE SAID TAKE-UP DRUM TO WIND SAID SPRING IN SPRING LOADING DIRECTION ONTO SAID TAKE-UP DRUM FROM SAID STORAGE REEL, THE TORQUE FORCE OF SAID STRING ON SAID SPOOL WHEN SAID BODY IS SUSPENDED IN AN EQUILIBRIUM POSITION ON SAID STRING APPROXIMATELY EQUALING THE FORCE OF SAID SPRING TENDING TO REWIND SAID SPRING ON SAID STORAGE REEL. 